Bailey the Welsh corgi is on the mend after his subzero dip. (Jordan Jackle/CBC)

Around Katepwa Beach, Sask., the story will no doubt be retold of the mischievous little dog, the quick-witted man who rescued him and the surprising reunion of a teacher and her student.

It began on Saturday, when a young Welsh corgi known as Bailey almost met a tragic end just outside his home at the resort village east of Regina.

While chasing geese on the lake, he broke through the ice and couldn't get out.

Neighbours spotted him several metres from shore and a rescue effort began.

Bryant Oliver managed to reach the dog by using his aluminum fishing boat as an icebreaker, pushing it along with a pitchfork.

"If it were my dog, it would be nice, if I wasn't around, that someone else would do the same thing," Oliver said later.

Bailey's owner Sheila Acton said she could see the dog's head — the only part of him that wasn't under water.

"Bryant was saying at that point, 'We got to get to him quick,'" she said. "We knew it was a bit of an emergency."

Bailey had been in the water for more than half an hour and when Oliver finally got to him, he was unresponsive.

Acton rushed Bailey to a veterinary clinic, where the story took another turn.

Inside was veterinarian Jess Mountenay. She was once a student in Acton's Grade 5 class. She hadn't seen Acton since leaving elementary school — nor told her of the impact she had had on her life.

There was a moment of recognition, a brief reunion, then Mountenay went to work.

After a shower and a lukewarm IV drip, Bailey began to come around.

Mountenay noted that without Acton, her veterinary office might not exist.

"She set up a work program when I was in Grade 5 to go volunteer at a vet clinic when I expressed to her that I wanted to be a vet when I grew up," Mountenay said.

Meanwhile, Bailey is on the mend. Although his paws are still tender, the corgi didn't suffer any tissue damage, and is expected to make a full recovery.